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RT. REV. JOHN  ENGLAND,  FIRST  BISHOP  OF  CHARLESTON 
By  Rev.Tbomaa  P.Phelan 


Jour. Am. Irish  Hist.Soc. 
Vol.14.  N.Y.1915 


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RT.  REV.  JOHN  ENGLAND,  FIRST  BISHOP  OF 
CHARLESTON. 

BY   REV.  THOMAS  P.   PHELAN,   A.   M. 

Read  at  the  Seventeeth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  American  Irish  Historical 
Society. 

On  November  sixth,  1789,  Pope  Pius  VI  by  the  Bull  "Ad 
Futuram"  erected  an  episcopal  see  at  Baltimore  and  appointed 
Rev.  John  Carroll  its  first  bishop.  The  new  diocese  comprised 
the  thirteen  original  colonies,  the  territory  east  of  the  Mississippi, 
the  missions  of  Maine  and  New  York  and  the  lands  north  of  the 
Ohio  River — formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop  of 
Quebec — and  the  French  and  Spanish  settlements  in  the  South 
and  Southwest,  originally  attached  to  the  diocese  of  Santiago  de 
Cuba.  (Shea,  History  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  United 
States,  Vol.  II,  pp.  382-383.)  The  acquisition  of  Louisiana  in 
1803,  extended  the  boundaries  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Bishop 
Carroll  and  his  co-adjutor,  Bishop  Neale,  yielding  to  the  infirmities 
of  age,  were  unable  to  visit  this  large  territory  frequently  or  to 
minister  adequately  to  the  spiritual  necessities  of  the  rapidly 
growing  congregations  which  were  springing  up  along  the  At- 
lantic seaboard  and  in  the  territory  west  of  the  Alleghenies,  so 
in  1808,  at  their  recommendation,  four  new  sees  were  erected 
at  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Bardstown.  The  crea- 
tion of  these  new  dioceses  lightened  the  labors  of  the  pioneer 
bishop  but  the  original  see  was  still  large  and  in  addition,  Dr. 
Carroll  was  burdened  with  the  administration  of  the  extensive 
dioceses  of  Florida  and  Louisiana.  It  was  proposed  to  erect 
Georgia  and  the  two  Carolinas  into  an  episcopal  see  but  the 
Bishop  demurred,  lest  the  small  Catholic  population  could  not 
support  the  additional  burdens.  Archbishop  Marechal,  on  his 
accession  to  the  see  of  Baltimore,  fearing  for  the  religious  future 
of  the  faithful  on  account  of  their  isolation  from  the  episcopal 
see  and  the  irregularities  which  were  creeping  in,  intimated  to 
the  Holy  See  his  desire  that  these  three  states  should  be  placed 
under  their  own  bishop.  His  recommendation  was  approved  and 
on  July  nth,  1820,  Pope  Pius  VII  issued  a  Bull  constituting  a 

115 


I* 


Il6  AMERICAN  IRISH  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 

new  diocese  with  Charleston  as  the  see  and  Rev.  John  England, 
an  Irish  priest,  its  first  bishop. 

John  England  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cork  September  23,  1786. 
His  boyhood  was  passed  amid  scenes  the  most  pathetic  in  Ire- 
land's sad  history — the  abortive  rebellion  of  1798,  Emmet's 
unsuccessful  rising,  the  passage  of  the  act  of  Union  and  the  de- 
struction of  Irish  independence,  the  death  struggles  of  the  in- 
famous penal  laws  and  the  agitation  for  Catholic  emancipation. 
"His  grandfather  despoiled  of  everything  had  spent  years  in 
prison;  his  grandmother  died  of  a  fever  caused  by  the  cruelty; 
his  father  for  teaching  a  few  scholars,  without  taking  a  sacri- 
legious oath  was  hunted  to  the  mountains."  (Shea,  Vol.  Ill, 
p.  369.) 

These  harrowing  scenes  and  recollections  never  faded  from  his 
memory  and  in  maturer  years  made  him  a  sterling  lover  of  liberty 
and  an  implacable  foe  of  Albion.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  a  barrister's  office  and  began  the  study  of  law.  After 
two  years  he  realized  his  vocation  was  for  the  altar  rather  than 
the  bar  so  he  was  matriculated  at  Carlow  college — the  nursery 
of  so  many  distinguished  Irish  ecclesiastics.  During  his  student 
days,  he  visited  the  barracks,  instructed  the  militia  and  estab- 
lished free  schools  for  poor  children.  In  after  years  he  was  ac- 
customed to  say,  that  like  St.  Francis  de  Sales,  he  began  his 
ministry  in  a  military  camp.  In  1808  he  was  ordained  and 
returned  to  his  native  city.  The  bishop  of  Cork  at  that  period 
was  Rt.  Rev.  Francis  Moylan,  brother  of  General  Stephen  Moy- 
lan  of  Philadelphia,  the  dashing  cavalry  leader  and  bosom  friend 
of  Washington.  Recognizing  the  brilliant  qualities  of  the  young 
levite,  he  made  him  preacher  at  the  Cathedral  and  President  of 
St.  Mary's  college.  In  addition  to  his  regular  duties,  he  founded 
and  edited  a  monthly  magazine,  The  Religious  Repertory,  visited 
the  jails  and  barracks  and  advocated  the  establishment  of  free 
schools  for  poor  children.  During  the  early  years  of  the  agitation 
for  emancipation  he  was  chosen  editor  of  the  Cork  Mercantile 
Chronicle  and  waged  unrelenting  warfare  on  the  opponents  of 
religious  liberty.  O'Connell  was  so  pleased  with  his  writings 
and  speeches,  that  in  later  years  he  remarked,  "With  Bishop 
England  at  my  back,  I  would  not  fear  the  whole  world  before 
me."    In  a  caustic  editorial  he  criticized  the  jury  system  and  the 


RT.  REV.  JOHN   ENGLAND.  117 

attitude  of  the  judges  in  political  cases.  He  was  taken  into 
custody,  indicted,  found  guilty  and  fined  five  hundred  pounds, 
and  in  default  of  payment  was  committed  to  prison.  Owing  to  a 
technicality  in  the  law  he  was  speedily  released.  In  181 7  he  was 
made  pastor  of  Bandon,  a  town  noted  for  its  intense  national  and 
religious  prejudices.  Here  he  supported  the  national  cause  so 
vigorously  that  on  one  occasion  he  narrowly  escaped  death  at 
the  hands  of  an  infuriated  opponent.  While  engaged  in  these 
multifarious  duties,  the  news  of  his  nomination  as  Bishop  of 
Charleston  came,  and  although  loathe  to  leave  his  native  soil, 
he  bowed  to  the  voice  of  authority,  and  bade  farewell  to  his  family 
and  parishioners.  He  was  consecrated  on  September  21,  1820, 
and  with  characteristic  independence,  refused  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  English  government;  "As  soon  as  I  reach  my 
see,  my  first  step  will  be  to  renounce  this  allegiance ;  therefore  the 
form  is  now  idle  and  useless."  Three  months  later  he  set  sail 
from  Belfast  accompanied  by  his  sister,  a  priest  and  some  students 
who  were  to  labor  in  his  diocese. 

The  territory  assigned  to  the  new  bishop  comprised  the  states 
of  North  and  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  embracing  an  area 
of  127,500  miles.  Lying  between  Virginia  and  Florida,  it  had 
witnessed  the  struggles  of  three  great  European  nations  to  form 
settlements  on  its  hospitable  shores.  "It  was  ths  frontier  upon 
which  were  waged  the  last  remnants  of  the  piracy  and  bucaneer- 
ing  that  had  grown  out  of  the  mighty  Elizabethan  world  struggle 
between  England  and  Spain."  (Fiske,  "Virginia  and  her  Neigh- 
bors," Vol.  II.)  By  the  discoveries  of  Ponce  de  Leon  and  the 
subsequent  voyages  of  Vasquez  de  Allyon,  the  Spanish  crown 
laid  claim  to  all  the  lands  from  Florida  to  Chesapeake  Bay.  The 
voyages  of  the  Cabots,  and  the  ill-fated  expeditions  of  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  were  the  basis  of  England's  claim  to  the  entire  region. 
The  French  Hugenots  undertook  to  found  settlements  in  the 
disputed  territory  but  were  defeated  and  massacred  by  the 
Spaniards  under  the  leadership  of  Pedro  Menendez.  The  trans- 
fer of  French  activities  to  the  basin  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  defeat 
of  the  Spanish  Armada,  and  the  decline  of  that  once  great  nation 
gave  England  undisputed  title  to  the  entire  region.  During  the 
seventeenth  century,  the  Albemarle  and  Clarendon  colonies 
were  established  in  North  Carolina,  the  Ashley  colony  in  South 


Il8  AMERICAN  IRISH  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 

Carolina,  and  finally  in  the  early  years  of  the  eighteenth  century 
James  Oglethorpe  laid  the  foundation  of  a  colony  in  Georgia, 
destined  as  a  refuge  for  oppressed  English  debtors.  These  settle- 
ments grew  slowly,  when  compared  with  their  northern  neigh- 
bors, being  oppressed  by  the  Spaniards  and  hostile  Indians  on 
the  southern  frontier.  When  the  revolutionary  struggle  began, 
they  cheerfully  joined  fortune  with  the  men  of  Virginia  and  New 
England  and  during  the  last  three  years  of  warfare,  bore  the 
brunt  of  the  hostile  attack. 

The  triumphs  of  Cromwell  and  William  of  Orange  and  the 
subsequent  enforcement  of  the  infamous  penal  laws,  drove 
thousands  of  Irish  exiles  to  the  American  colonies.  The  Carolina 
settlements  received  a  large  quota  of  these  immigrants.  "Scarce 
a  ship  sailed  from  any  of  its  ports  for  Charleston  that  was  not 
crowded  with  men,  women  and  children.  The  Moores,  Rutledges, 
Jacksons,  Lynchs,  Polks,  Calhouns  and  many  other  Irish  families 
whom  we  might  name,  not  only  distinguished  themselves  in  the 
Carolinas,  but  became  leaders  of  the  very  highest  reputation  in 
national  affairs,  at  least  two  of  them  becoming  Presidents  of  the 
United  States,  and  many  of  them  governors,  senators  and  chiefs  of 
the  army  and  navy.  (Haltigan,  "The  Irish  In  the  Revolution.") 
"Of  all  other  countries  none  has  furnished  the  province  with  so 
many  inhabitants  as  Ireland."  (David  Ramsay,  "History  of 
South  Carolina.")  Georgia,  a  more  distinctively  English  colony, 
received  few  Irish  settlers  until  previous  to  the  Revolution,  when 
large  numbers  emigrated  from  the  northern  colonies.  Knox, 
Hunt,  Dooley,  McCall,  Pollock  and  Crockett  are  a  few  of  the 
distinguished  Irish  names  enshrined  in  the  annals  of  Oglethorpe's 
colony.  The  remembrance  of  the  many  cruelties  endured  by 
their  ancestors  never  faded  from  the  memories  of  their  descend- 
ants, and  when  the  struggle  for  freedom  came,  they  kept  alive 
the  spirit  of  patriotism,  at  a  time  when  the  liberties  of  the  South 
were  well  nigh  destroyed  by  the  capture  of  Charleston  and  Sa- 
vannah and  the  disastrous  campaign  of  Gates. 

Although  visited  early  in  the  sixteenth  century  by  Dominican, 
Franciscan  and  Jesuit  priests,  who  accompanied  the  Spanish 
expeditions,  Catholicity  never  took  root  in  these  colonies.  The 
laws  of  the  two  Carolinas  prevented  Catholics  from  acquiring 
lands  or  holding  office,  and  the  charter  of  Georgia  expressly  denied 


RT.  REV.  JOHN  ENGLAND.  119 

them  liberty  of  conscience.  (Cobb,  "The  Rise  of  Religious 
Liberty  in  America.")  When  the  Acadians  were  expelled  from 
their  homes  after  the  fall  of  Louisburgh,  five  hundred  were 
landed  in  North  Carolina  and  one  thousand  five  hundred  in 
South  Carolina.  Some  were  placed  on  ships  and  sent  to  France, 
others  migrated  to  Louisiana,  a  remnant  took  up  lands.  Four 
hundred  were  assigned  to  Georgia,  but  were  not  allowed  to  land. 
The  patriotism  of  Catholics  during  the  revolutionary  struggle 
and  the  alliance  with  France  and  Spain,  brought  about  kindlier 
feelings,  and  Catholics  began  to  settle  in  the  three  southern 
colonies.  In  1786  a  vessel  having  a  priest  on  board  came  to 
Charleston.  He  said  Mass  in  the  house  of  an  Irish  settler  for  a 
congregation  of  twelve  persons.  Two  years  later,  Dr.  Carroll 
sent  Father  Ryan  to  visit  the  three  states.  During  the  next 
twenty  years  several  priests  came,  but  the  paucity  of  Catholics, 
the  disputes  between  the  clergy  and  the  trustees,  and  the  irreg- 
ularities which  arose,  retarded  the  growth  of  the  church. 

To  this  diocese,  rich  in  memories  of  Irish  and  Catholic  achieve- 
ments though  poor  in  numbers  and  resources,  the  new  bishop  came 
in  December  1820. 

"When  I  was  appointed  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Charleston, 
I  found  myself  burdened  with  the  spiritual  care  of  three  large 
states,  together  containing  about  a  million  and  a  half  of  people, 
in  fact  about  one  seventh  of  the  whole  population  of  the  United 
States.  There  were  Catholic  refugees  from  the  island  of  St. 
Domingo;  also  a  few  Frenchmen  who  had  succeeded  in  escaping 
the  horrors  of  the  Revolution;  lastly  a  number  of  immigrants 
from  Ireland  and  the  state  of  Maryland.  In  general  the  Catholics 
were  poor  and  the  objects  of  immense  prejudice  and  they  had  no 
clergy.  Many  of  the  slaves,  especially  such  as  had  accompanied 
the  French  refugees  were  Catholics.  Several  Indian  tribes  also 
were  found  within  the  diocese,  but  they  were  sadly  neglected 
through  lack  of  priests.  I  found  upon  my  arrival  one  small 
brick  church  in  South  Carolina ;  in  Georgia  one  log  and  two  frame 
edifices — in  all  four  churches.  In  South  Carolina  there  were 
probably  two  hundred  communicants;  in  Georgia  one  hundred 
and  fifty;  in  North  Carolina,  twenty  five — a  total  of  three  hun- 
dred and  seventy  five.  In  Georgia  and  South  Carolina  there  were 
only  three  priests.    In  coming  over  from  Ireland,  I  had  brought 


120  AMERICAN  IRISH  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 

along  at  my  own  expense  three  more  whom  I  have  ordained. 
Those  who  were  already  here  have  died  or  did  not  long  remain. 
I  managed  to  obtain  three  others,  so  that  I  was  enabled  to  assign 
two  to  Georgia,  three  to  South  Carolina,  and  I  personally  attend 
to  the  wants  of  North  Carolina."  ("Annales  de  L' Association  de 
la  Propagation  de  la  Foi."  Letter  of  Bishop  England,  May  27, 
1829.) 

Since  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  no  bishop  had  faced  such  trying 
conditions  in  a  civilized  country.  Undaunted  however  by  the 
uninviting  prospect  Dr.  England  set  out  on  a  visitation  of  his 
vast  diocese.  Riding  in  a  rude  wagon  drawn  by  two  stout  ponies 
and  driven  by  a  negro  boy  he  covered  hundreds  of  miles  over 
rough  roads  and  along  paths  blazed  through  the  pine  forests. 
In  every  hamlet  where  he  found  Catholic  settlers  he  said  Mass, 
heard  confessions,  baptized,  married,  confirmed,  preached  and 
instructed.  He  encouraged  these  little  groups  to  meet  every 
Sunday  and  appointed  a  person  to  read  prayers  and  teach  cate- 
chism. Wherever  he  found  a  growing  settlement,  he  advised  the 
faithful  to  purchase  ground,  erect  a  church  and  hold  their  or- 
ganization until  he  could  send  them  a  pastor.  "The  desire  to  hear 
sermons  and  lectures  brought  many  non-Catholics  to  hear  a  man 
who  was  famous  for  his  eloquence."  He  lectured  and  preached 
in  churches,  chapels,  halls,  concert  rooms,  private  houses  and  oc- 
casionally in  the  open  air.  On  one  occasion  he  met  a  convoy  of 
wagons  carrying  cotton  to  market.  The  leader  of  the  cavalcade 
respectfully  approached  him  and  saluting  him  as  "Mr.  Bishop," 
asked  him  to  preach  them  a  sermon,  as  they  had  heard  "He  was 
the  most  all  fired  powerful  preacher  in  the  country."  The  Bishop 
acquiesced,  and  mounting  the  stump  of  a  tree  spoke  to  them  of 
their  duties  to  God  and  their  fellow  men.  At  the  close  of  the 
address  the  leader  thanked  him  for  his  kindness  and  his  followers 
gave  three  cheers  for  "Mr.  Bishop."  On  another  occasion,  a 
minister  who  had  attended  the  lectures  during  the  week,  begged 
Dr.  England  to  occupy  his  pulpit  on  Sunday  as  he  had  had  no 
opportunity  to  prepare  a  sermon.  The  Bishop  assented,  and  on 
Sunday  morning  read  some  selections  from  the  scriptures,  recited 
some  prayers  and  preached  a  solid  discourse  on  a  moral  topic. 
During  the  first  visitation  he  called  on  Hon.  William  Gaston, 
the  distinguished  lawyer  and  former  member  of  Congress,  later  a 


RT.  REV.  JOHN  ENGLAND.  121 

judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  North  Carolina.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  a  friendship  which  endured  during  the  lifetime  of 
these  illustrious  men.  This  visitation  was  repeated  yearly  during 
the  two  decades  of  his  episcopate.  He  was  usually  absent  from 
his  cathedral  from  three  to  nine  months  on  these  missionary 
trips.  Although  his  health  was  often  precarious  and  the  fatigues 
and  privations  he  underwent  were  gradually  undermining  his 
strength,  he  persevered  in  this  work  until  called  to  his  eternal 
rest.  In  his  episcopal  city  he  performed  all  the  duties  of  an 
ordinary  parish  priest,  preaching,  saying  Mass,  administering 
the  sacraments  and  visiting  the  sick.  During  the  yellow  fever 
epidemic,  he  labored  day  and  night,  his  heroic  conduct  winning 
encomiums  of  praise  from  every  side.  He  was  especially  devoted 
to  the  slaves,  saying  Mass  for  them  every  Sunday,  instructing 
them  in  Christian  doctrine,  and  treating  them  with  paternal  care 
and  tenderest  solicitude.  His  revenues  were  so  meagre  he  could 
scarcely  obtain  the  bare  necessities  of  life  and  the  arrogance  of 
the  trustees  brought  sorrow  to  his  heart.  Yet  with  true  mission- 
ary zeal  he  never  faltered,  but  spent  himself  in  building  up  the 
diocese  entrusted  to  his  care. 

During  these  journeys,  the  Bishop  found  many  of  his  people 
ignorant  of  the  doctrines  and  practices  of  the  faith.  To  correct 
these  evils  he  organized  a  Book  Society  in  Charleston  and  en- 
deavored to  establish  a  branch  in  every  parish.  Lack  of  funds 
and  popular  apathy  retarded  the  success  of  the  movement,  but 
he  was  not  discouraged  and  in  1822,  obtained  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion from  the  state  legislature.  He  edited  and  published  a  cate- 
chism and  a  new  edition  of  the  Missal  in  English,  thus  hoping 
to  create  a  taste  for  reading  among  his  scattered  people.  To 
afford  his  co-religionists  a  medium  of  communication  as  well  as 
to  remove  false  and  erroneous  ideas  from  the  minds  of  non- 
Catholics,  he  founded,  in  1822,  The  United  States  Catholic 
Miscellany ,  the  first  Catholic  paper  issued  in  the  United  States. 
Its  motto  was,  "Candor,  Moderation,  Fidelity,  Charity,  and 
Diligence."  Lack  of  funds  caused  it  to  suspend  publication  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  year,  but  with  characteristic  courage,  he 
began  again,  and  it  survived  until  the  Civil  War.  It  was  the 
period  of  controversy,  religious  and  political,  and  the  Bishop 
was  ever  ready  to  break  a  lance  with  a  worthy  adversary.     His 


122  AMERICAN  IRISH  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

sister,  Johanna,  who  had  accompanied  him  from  Ireland,  assisted 
in  the  work,  contributing  to  its  columns,  and  occasionally  toning 
down  the  sternness  of  his  logic.  In  its  pages  he  discussed  religious, 
literary  and  historical  subjects  and  his  works  issued  after  his 
death,  in  five  volumes,  consist  chiefly  of  articles  from  the  Mis- 
cellany. His  example  was  followed  in  more  populous  centers  and 
soon  Boston,  New  York  and  Philadelphia  boasted  of  Catholic 
papers. 

There  was  neither  college  nor  academy  in  Charleston  at  this 
time,  so  in  1822  the  Bishop  founded  "The  Philosophical  and 
Classical  Seminary  of  Charleston."  It  was  a  success  from  the 
beginning,  Catholics  and  non-Catholics  entering  their  sons  as 
pupils.  However,  religious  animosity  somewhat  retarded  its 
growth  and  in  course  of  time  it  became  almost  exclusively  a 
Catholic  institution.  In  conjunction  with  the  college  he  opened 
a  seminary  which  supplied  many  priests  to  the  home  and  neigh- 
boring missions.  "He  was  not  only  president  but  teacher,  com- 
pelled frequently  to  attend  almost  all  the  classes,  though  gradually 
he  was  assisted  by  some  candidates  for  orders,  whom  he  found 
extremely  well  qualified  to  communicate  knowledge  by  teaching." 
For  the  education  of  girls  he  founded  a  community — The  Sisters 
of  Our  Lady  of  Mercy,  under  the  rules  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul. 
These  sisters  opened  an  academy  for  the  girls  of  the  middle 
classes,  a  school  for  free  colored  girls,  and  visited  the  sick  poor. 
During  the  cholera  epidemic,  they  nursed  the  victims,  their 
superior  succumbing  to  the  dread  scourge.  In  1834,  he  brought 
the  Ursulines  from  Ireland  to  his  diocese  but  after  a  struggle  with 
poverty  and  privation  they  left  Charleston.  Twelve  years  later, 
they  returned  to  the  scene  of  their  former  labors. 

Although  struggling  with  poverty  in  a  small  diocese,  Bishop 
England  found  time  to  interest  himself  in  the  welfare  of  religion 
in  other  parts  of  the  republic.  He  visited  the  important  cities 
of  the  Union,  preaching  and  lecturing,  everywhere  greeted  by 
large  and  enthusiastic  audiences.  "He  has  been  justly  styled, 
The  Father  of  Our  Provincial  Councils."  Realizing  the  neces- 
sity for  concerted  action,  he  urged  his  fellow-bishops  to  meet  oc- 
casionally to  plan  ways  and  means  for  the  betterment  of  religion. 
He  attended  several  convocations  and  aided  in  framing  rules  for 
the  guidance  of  the  clergy  and  laity.     In  1822  he  was  commis- 


RT.  REV.  JOHN  ENGLAND.  1 23 

sionecl  to  take  charge  of  the  diocese  of  East  Florida.  He  visited 
that  historic  region  and  labored  zealously  to  restore  the  ancient 
discipline.  Ten  years  later  he  was  appointed  Apostolic  Delegate 
to  Hayti,  to  revive  religion  in  that  unhappy  republic.  After  two 
visits  he  was  able  to  report  to  Rome  that  order  was  restored  and 
the  spirit  of  faith  rekindled.  While  visiting  Philadelphia  he  en- 
deavored to  compromise  the  troubles  between  Bishop  Conwell, 
the  trustees  and  the  refractory  Hogan  but  his  labors  were  un- 
successful, and  he  received  the  reward  of  all  peacemakers,  criticism 
and  ingratitude.  He  made  four  trips  to  Europe,  visiting  his 
native  land  and  the  tomb  of  the  apostles,  obtaining  aid  for  his 
scattered  missions.  Indeed  his  activities  were  most  extraordinary, 
and  in  the  service  of  religion  his  mind  and  body  knew  no  fatigue. 
In  civic  affairs  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  his  city  and  state. 
His  voice  was  ever  raised  in  defence  of  his  adopted  country  and 
in  praise  of  its  institutions.  During  the  nullification  troubles 
he  acted  and  spoke  with  such  prudence  and  moderation  as  to 
merit  the  encomiums  of  every  party.  A  blight  on  the  moral 
character  of  the  American  people  was  the  duelling  habit.  He 
aided  in  forming  an  anti-duelling  society  with  the  venerable 
Thomas  Pinkney  as  President  which  materially  helped  to  dis- 
credit the  system.  In  his  paper  he  published  an  article  setting 
forth  the  immorality  and  cruelty  of  the  pernicious  practice. 
In  1826  he  was  invited  to  address  Congress  in  the  hall  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  at  Washington,  the  first  Catholic 
ecclesiastic  so  honored.  He  spoke  to  them  on  revealed  religion 
and  their  duties  to  God  and  their  fellow-men.  "Nothing  can 
excuse  us  from  the  discharge  of  this  duty.  No  difference  of  re- 
ligion can  form  a  pretext  for  non-compliance.  In  these  happy 
and  free  states  we  stand  upon  the  equal  grounds  of  religious 
right;  we  may  freely  love  and  bear  with  each  other  and  exhibit 
to  Europe  a  contrast  to  her  jealousies  in  our  affection."  Nor 
was  he  forgetful  of  his  native  land.  As  while  pastor  of  Bandon  he 
had  nobly  seconded  the  efforts  of  O'Connell  and  Shiel  to  obtain 
emancipation  for  their  co-religionists,  so  in  the  free  republic,  he 
encouraged  the  Irish  exiles  to  aid  their  brethren  in  the  struggle 
without  forgetting  their  duties  to  their  adopted  country.  His 
speeches  and  essays  on  Irish  nationality  did  much  to  soften  the 
prejudices  against  these  strangers  to  our  shores. 


124  AMERICAN  IRISH   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 

Twenty-two  years  of  labor  had  undermined  the  strength 
of  the  illustrious  prelate.  Never  robust,  his  missionary  travels 
and  arduous  literary  occupations  had  sapped  his  vital  strength. 
To  lighten  his  burdens,  a  co-adjutor  was  appointed  but  after  a 
year  in  Charleston  became  dissatisfied  and  was  transferred  to 
another  field.  Returning  from  Europe  in  the  spring  of  1842, 
sickness  broke  out  among  the  steerage  passengers  and  the  Bishop 
although  broken  in  health,  devoted  himself  to  the  sufferers,  and 
contracted  the  dread  malady.  On  reaching  his  episcopal  city 
he  was  completely  prostrated  and  on  April  nth,  1842,  was  called 
to  his  eternal  reward. 

The  news  of  his  death  came  as  a  shock  to  the  entire  country. 
His  fidelity  to  duty  had  endeared  him  to  the  entire  church,  and 
his  whole-souled  patriotism  was  admired  by  every  citizen,  ir- 
respective of  creed.  Letters  and  resolutions  of  condolence  came 
from  every  state  in  the  Union,  Catholic  and  Irish  societies  and  the 
members  of  the  hierarchy  deploring  his  untimely  loss.  In 
Charleston,  men  of  every  religious  belief  joined  in  praising  his 
many  virtues.  The  public  buildings  were  draped  in  mourning, 
the  daily  papers  spoke  most  feelingly  of  his  services  to  the  city 
and  state,  and  the  Washington  Light  Artillery  and  other  civic 
and  military  bodies  passed  resolutions  of  respect.  The  Charleston 
Patriot,  a  leading  newspaper  of  the  time,  voiced  the  sentiments 
of  his  fellow-citizens: 

"A  divine  who  illustrated  the  duties  of  his  lofty  calling  by  his 
personal  example — whose  philanthropy  knew  no  discrimination 
of  class,  creed  or  country,  whose  ability  was  unquestioned,  whose 
learning  was  ample,  whose  energies  knew  no  abatement — gone 
to  the  tomb,  with  the  profound  regret  of  the  country  in  which  he 
lived,  the  intense  sorrow  of  his  afflicted  congregation,  and  the 
agonizing  grief  of  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Honor  to  his  memory 
and  reverence  to  his  virtues." 

Bishop  England  was  a  scholar  of  rare  literary  attainments,  and 
a  polished  and  eloquent  orator.  His  labors  in  his  native  land 
left  him  little  leisure  for  books  and  his  missionary  career  in 
America  so  occupied  his  time,  that  he  could  not  acquire  that 
fund  of  theological  knowledge,  the  fruits  of  years  of  patient 
study.  His  essays  in  the  Catholic  Miscellany  were  often  hurriedly 
written  and  without  proper  revision,  and  books  for  extensive 


RT.  REV.  JOHN  ENGLAND.  1 25 

and  accurate  research  were  wanting.  Often  when  short  of  funds 
or  help,  he  went  into  the  printing  office  and  composed  brilliant 
articles,  not  in  writing  but  in  type.  He  had  little  leisure  for 
preparing  his  sermons  and  lectures,  often  collecting  his  thoughts 
as  he  rode  in  railway  trains  or  in  his  rude  carriage. 

"He  was  a  writer  well  acquainted  with  the  important  subjects 
which  he  treated,  and  singularly  gifted  with  the  power  of  close 
and  exact  logic,  and  with  the  happy  talent  of  communicating  his 
thoughts  in  a  style  remarkable  for  perspicuity  and  strength — 
always  easy  and  natural — often  charming  by  its  beauty,  or  warm- 
ing by  its  fervor — and  sometimes  elevating  us  by  its  sub- 
limity." 

As  a  citizen  he  was  loyal  and  true  to  his  adopted  country. 
He  loved  and  admired  the  constitution  and  customs  of  the  re- 
public and  endeavored  to  instil  the  same  principles  in  the  hearts  of 
the  emigrants  who  came  to  our  shores.  When  delicate  questions 
arose  threatening  the  integrity  of  the  Union,  he  was  singularly 
tactful  and  prudent,  counselling  moderation  and  compromise.  He 
was  not  a  partisan  in  politics  but  a  sincere  patriot  anxious  for 
the  welfare  of  the  republic. 

As  an  Irishman,  he  revered  the  land  of  his  forefathers.  The 
pathetic  scenes  of  boyhood  days  never  faded  from  his  memory 
and  he  was  always  ready  to  assist  any  movement  for  the  ameliora- 
tion of  his  suffering  countrymen.  To  the  last  he  was  a  friend  of 
the  great  Liberator,  aiding  him  in  the  struggle  for  emancipa- 
tion, approving  his  crusade  for  the  repeal  of  the  Union. 

As  a  bishop  he  was  a  worthy  successor  of  the  Apostles.  His 
see  was  poor,  his  flock  small  and  widely  scattered.  He  received 
little  aid  from  without  in  the  herculean  task  of  upbuilding  his 
diocese.  Yet  in  two  score  years,  he  had  removed  scandals, 
aroused  a  spirit  of  faith,  enforced  discipline,  crushed  the  tyranny 
of  trusteeism  and  placed  his  diocese  on  a  fair  financial  basis.  He 
had  established  a  seminary,  a  college,  two  schools  for  girls,  and  a 
newspaper  and  developed  a  taste  for  good  literature  among  his 
scattered  flock.  Among  the  pioneer  bishops  of  the  republic  his 
name  stands  high  on  the  roll  of  fame  for  his  courage,  perseverance 
and  zeal. 

As  a  churchman,  patriot  and  scholar,  Bishop  England  has  left 


126  AMERICAN  IRISH  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 

his  mark  on  the  pages  of  Irish  and  American  history,  and  his 
name  and  fame  will  endure  as  long  as  love  of  God  and  country 
are  the  cardinal  principles  of  the  American  people. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Cobb,  Sandford  H.     "The  Rise  of  Religious  Liberty  in  America." 

Condon,  Edward  O'Meagher.     "The  Irish  Race  in  America." 

Dunn  and  Lennox.     "The  Glories  of  Ireland." 

Fiske,  John.     "Virginia  and  Her  Neighbors."     Vol.  II. 

Griffin,  Martin  I.  J.     "American  Catholic  Historical  Researches."     1905- 

1911. 

Haltigan,  James.     "The  Irish  in  the  American  Revolution." 

Hayes    and  Mahon.     "Trials  and  Triumphs  of  the  Catholic  Church  in 

America." 

Kirlin,  Rev.  Joseph  L.  J.    "  Catholicity  in  Philadelphia." 
Maguire,  John  Francis,  M.  P.     "The  Irish  in  America." 
Murray,  John  O'Kane.     "The  Catholic  Pioneers  of  America." 
McElrone,  Hugh  P.    "The  Choice  Works  of  Rt.  Rev.  John  England." 
McGee,  Thomas  D'Arcy.     "A  History  of  the  Irish  Settlers  in  North  Amer- 
ica." 

O'Connell,  Rev.  J.  J.,  O.  S.  B.     "Catholicity  in  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia. 
O'Gorman,     Rt.     Rev.   Thomas.     "A    History   of  the   Roman    Catholic 

Church  in  the  United  States." 

O'Hanlon,  Rev.  John  Canon.     "Irish  American  History." 

Ramsay,  David.     "History  of  South  Carolina." 

Reynolds,  Rt.  Rev.  Ignatius  A.,  D.  D.     "The    Works  of  Rt.  Rev.  John 

England." 

Shea,  John  Gilmary.    "  History  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  United  States." 

Vols.  II  and  III. 

Smith,  Rev.  John  Talbot,  LL.  D.     "The  Catholic  Church  in  New  York." 
United    States    Catholic    Historical    Society.      "Historical    Records    and 

Studies."     Vols.  II  and  III. 

Winsor,  Justin.     "History  of  America."     Vols.  Ill— IV  and  V. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


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